That’s a wrap! The New Zealand Optometry Student Society (NZOSS) finished 2023 with a record-breaking 19 events, a first-time international collaboration with Optometry Australia and Australian universities, and a university-wide seminar with our very own NZOSS alumna, Simran Kaur.

The year started with a bang, with more than 90 attendees going to camp at Te Kauri Lodge, where we had a blast with scavenger hunts and fashion runway shows. Given what little clothing we brought with us, the latter consisted mostly of our optom boys in bikini tops!

Next, we had a welcome BBQ, introducing the new part II students to the rest of the cohort and handing out goodie bags courtesy of our wonderful sponsors. The Round the Bays fun run also made a return this year, with our small but mighty team joined by the familiar face of Jason Xu from OPSM Remuera. We also had a comeback with our sports day, where we battled it out for $350 of Westfield vouchers.

We held many interfaculty Faculty of Medical and Health Science (FMHS) events, such as an Italian summer cocktail mixer and the equally popular badminton tournament. I regret to announce that Pharmily (our pharmacy counterparts) won this year’s first tournament, but I’m confident we can take them next year! With a very long waiting list, this year’s amazing Eyeball was also very successful. The students loved their supervisors’ involvement and role in selecting the night’s best-dressed individuals!

As well as a packed social calendar, we held educational seminars throughout the year, with amazing turnout from all the part II and III students, who were treated to goodies and food from our sponsors. We were also fortunate to have former director-general of health Sir Ashley Bloomfield attend our FMHS Healthcare Professional Roundtable event to discuss the future of healthcare. An Auckland University alumnus, he is now the University’s first professor of its Public Policy Impact Institute.

The Optometry Student Society Australia and New Zealand (OSSANZ) held its first Australia-New Zealand optometry student conference, sponsored by Optometry Australia, where we heard from several guest speakers from some of the profession’s larger groups. I had the honour of opening our first international seminar with a karakia, with students joining in via Zoom and playing online games to win a share of the huge prize pool of AU$2,000!

We are now busy planning the part V graduation dinner, proudly sponsored by OPSM and Specsavers, which will be held at the beautiful Glasshouse Morningside. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors for their generous support, which enabled us to organise such an eventful year.

Despite how full-on this year was, I truly enjoyed every second of it. I’m very excited to announce our new president, Hector Leong, and congratulate him and his new executive team. I’m sure all our NZOSS members can’t wait to see what big plans they have in store for 2024!